Grilled Split Lobster Food

GRILLED LOBSTER

Steps:

• Kill lobsters by plunging them headfirst into salted boiling water and cooking for 1 minute. Remove, and drain.
• Place lobsters on a medium-hot grill. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally to avoid burning the shells.
• Crack a claw to see if it is fully cooked (the meat should be opaque). If not, detach claws, and return to grill for a few minutes more. Using kitchen scissors, split lobsters lengthwise by cutting along underside of tail, leaving back of shell intact. Scrape out red coral, if any, and green tomalley, and combine with melted butter for a dipping sauce, if desired. Keep lobsters warm on a platter covered with foil until ready to serve. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve with melted butter, if desired.

PERFECT LOBSTER TAILS

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Place a wire cooling rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. Cut the top shell of the lobster tails lengthwise down the middle with kitchen shears. Then, using a knife, cut all the way through the tails to split into 2 pieces. Place them flesh-side up on the prepared baking sheet.
• Mix together the butter, parsley, shallot, lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a small bowl until well combined.
• Spread 2 teaspoons of the compound butter on the flesh of each lobster tail half. Broil until the shells turn a bright orange, the flesh is opaque and cooked through and the tails begin to curl, about 4 minutes.
• Transfer the tails to a serving platter and top each half with another teaspoon of the compound butter (save the remainder for another use).

GRILLED LOBSTER SMOTHERED IN BASIL BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine the butter, basil, and salt and pepper to taste in a food processor and blend until smooth. Pack the mixture into a medium ramekin, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Split the lobsters in half lengthwise. Bring the knife down through the tail, making sure to cut just through the meat and to leave the shell connected. Lay the lobster open, leaving the two halves slightly attached. Pull off claws and legs from the lobsters and crack them slightly with the knife handle. Place the claws and legs on the grill over medium-low heat and cover with a pie pan. Cook them for 5 to 7 minutes per side. Brush the lobster bodies with the oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Place them fleshside down on the grill over medium heat. Grill 8 to 10 minutes
• Remove the lobsters and slather with the basil butter.

GRILLED SPLIT LOBSTER

Steps:

• Prepare grill for medium-high heat; oil grate. Chill two 1 1/2-pounds live lobsters in freezer 15 minutes (this will slow down their nervous system-helpful for what comes next). Working one at a time, transfer to a cutting board, belly side down, with head facing you. Using a kitchen towel, hold tail (it shouldn't be very active now) and, starting where the tail meets the body, bisect body and head lengthwise in one fell swoop. Turn lobster around and cut lengthwise through tail. Remove any tomalley or eggs (reserving, if you'd like).
• Immediately rub cut side of lobsters with 2 tablespoons oil total; season with salt and pepper. Grill, cut side down, pressing claws against grill, until meat is nearly cooked through, 6-8 minutes. Turn and grill until shells are lightly charred and meat is cooked through (tail meat will look opaque and be firm), about 3 minutes. Remove lobsters from grill and serve with melted butter, hot sauce, and lemon wedges for squeezing over.

GRILLED LOBSTER TAILS WITH LEMON & HERB BUTTER

Steps:

• Make the butter by mixing together all the ingredients, then season and set aside. Can be made two days ahead. Remove from the fridge to soften before using.
• Use kitchen scissors to cut along the tops of the lobster shells, then flip the tails over and crack the ribs of the shell. Use your fingers to open the shell and loosen the meat keeping it attached at the base and pull it half out. Use a knife to cut along the top of the tail without cutting all the way through and remove the vein if you see one. Sit the tail in a shallow roasting tray and add some butter to each one. Tails can be prepared a few hours ahead and chilled.
• Heat the grill to high, then grill the lobster tails for 10 mins until cooked through. Put them on plates and drizzle with the butter from the pan, or pour the butter into a ramekin and put it in the middle of the table for dipping the lobster meat in. Serve with lemon wedges and scatter with extra parsley, if you like.

GRILLED LOBSTER

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Using tongs, put lobsters in pot, one by one. Cover pot. Cook just until bright red, about 2 minutes each (longer if lobsters weigh more). Remove lobsters from pot with tongs; plunge into a bowl, sink or bucket of ice water; then continue cooking, or refrigerate for up to a day.
• Prepare grill; heat should be medium-high and rack about 4 inches from fire. Cut lobsters in half along back, then grill for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, starting with cut side up, sprinkling with salt and pepper before turning. Lobster is done when meat is firm and opaque. Serve with lemon wedges or melted butter, or both.